“Breaker one-nine. This is Echo Zulu One.”

“We receive you, Echo.” The communications officer pushed the volume higher. The drones were tracking the small craft down to the surface. The video screen was tinted green, and the contrast was fuzzy, but he could make out the ship as it descended.

“Thrusters one and two are malfunctioning. Emergency landing procedures have commenced. Got our twenty?”

The officer glanced at the green dot on the radar.

“Got your twenty, Echo.”

“Twenty six minutes to sundown. We are armed and ready.”

“Drones are at your six. Good luck.”

“Roger that, Lieutenant.”

The communications officer watched cautiously as the craft landed. The radar showed an opaque band of red crossing the screen. The oncoming darkness was uncomfortably close. He armed the drones, and set them to automatic fire. The transmission crackled to life.

“Pegs down.”

The fuzzy picture showed the rear hatch opening, and the tiny figures of the crewmen milling around the craft, frantically working.

He swivelled the drone camera, facing it away from the crew. The horizon was alight, but fading fast. He shuddered.

“Status?” he pressed a finger to his earpiece.

“Thruster two is leaking. We are flushing thruster one now. ETA lift-off in twenty.” “Roger that, captain.”

The lieutenant watched as the sun dipped below the horizon. His hand clenched as he switched the view back to the maintenance ship.

The earpiece crackled again as a familiar whine rang across the airwaves.

The green screen switched to night-vision mode. The tiny crew members shone out white against black. Half of the team spread out around the ship in a semi-circle, un-holstering their weapons.

The whine repeated.

Suddenly, the crew member guarding the rear ramp was cut in half. The flash of red disappeared as soon as it came. The lieutenant stared in horror as the torso of the dead man started to twitch.

The transmission hissed as the drones started to fire.

“The natives are here. Jones is down.” The captain’s tone was controlled. “Copy that. Recommend lift-off.” The officer glanced toward the green dot as the darkness inched further over their position.

“Negative. Thrusters both malfunctioning.”

“Copy that.” The lieutenant looked helplessly at the crew as they fell, the red flashes crossing the screen with super human speed.

“Lieutenant?”

“Yes, captain?” The officer felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The voice on the end of the line became raspy and guttural.

“We’ll see you soon.”